Christie, Romney and Charlie Baker to attend Republican fundraiser in Boston area tonight

Christie, Romney and Charlie Baker to attend Republican fundraiser in Boston area tonight

By

Michael Levenson

February 27, 2014

Moderate Republican governors past, present, and perhaps future are scheduled to meet in the Boston area tonight at a high-dollar fundraiser hosted by a billionaire sneaker magnate.

The exclusive fundraiser for the Republican Governors Association will feature Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, who is chairman of the group and has been embroiled in a scandal about his administration’s politically motivated closing of traffic lanes.

Former governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, is scheduled to attend the event as well, along with Charlie Baker, who is making his second bid for the governor’s office.

The fundraiser is being hosted by Jim Davis, the chairman of New Balance, who has an estimated net worth of $3.1 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

In 2010, the Republican Governors Association spent heavily to help Baker’s gubernatorial campaign, financing ads that attacked Timothy P. Cahill, an independent candidate who was competing with Baker for the support of moderate voters.

Baker has spoken positively of both Baker and Romney, calling them good examples of governors who worked well with members of both political parties. Baker has also said he does not believe Christie should step down as chairman of the Republican Governors Association because of the traffic scandal.